On 25 Places To Visit In Kuala Lumpur

If you’re taking an extended trip to Southeast Asia, there’s a good chance you’ll pass through Kuala Lumpur.

Regardless as to why you find yourself coming to Kuala Lumpur, this post covers various places to visit in Kuala Lumpur. Having visited six plus times, I’m getting closer and closer to ticking off all the tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur.

To make your life easier, you can click on the bold headings below to jump straight to the relevant category.

If you’re on a layover in Kuala Lumpur, these icons are the top things to do in Kuala Lumpur.

1. Petronas Twin Towers

Undoubtedly the #1 icon of Malaysia, at the minimum you have to get up close to the towers for a photo. There’s a large high-end shopping mall at the base of the towers, but the main tourist attraction is to go up to the observation deck for sweeping views of the city, although you can simply view the beauty of the building from the outside which you can’t see when you’re inside. With the towers and KL tower as a landmark, you have no excuses for getting lost in the city. If you’re short on time in KL, you might want to buy these skip the line tickets to guarantee your viewing time and have them dropped off at your accommodation before you arrive.

2. Kuala Lumpur Tower

For some reason I really like this photo of the tower

With the top of the antenna reaching 421 metres, KL Tower is a landmark you can spot from around the city. If you’d like to go up the tower, the observation deck is 276 metres above ground. I remember my first time in KL, I had peri-peri chips from Nandos for lunch then went straight to the top of KL Tower. There are other activities which you can see on their website. You can buy your tickets on GetYourGuide in advance and it doesn’t cost any extra.

3. Batu Caves

Located on the outskirts of the city, it’s easy to get to the Batu Caves that are not only a tourist attraction but an important pilgrimage site for Hindus. My lasting memory will be the pigeons in the area around the massive 43-metre high statue of the Hindu god, Lord Murugan. Then to reach the actual caves you’ve got over 200 stairs to climb, with some evil monkeys looking to take advantage of any weakness you show (I strongly dislike monkeys). Once you’re in the caves, you might be awestruck how big they are! A nice little trip that’s easy to reach on public transport.

4. Chinatown

Petaling Street Entrance

This is a different Chinatown compared to others I’ve experienced for one key reason, the lack of restaurants. Don’t get me wrong, there are restaurants in Chinatown but not a high number of them. The main feature is Petaling Street which cuts down the middle and is lined with vendors throughout the day looking to offload some of their goods to you. They don’t hassle you so much here which is nice, and there are some good quality items to buy at a good rate (if you can negotiate well). I found myself walking through here a lot as I stayed nearby on one trip and loved the tau fu fah from Kim Soya Bean (Google Maps location is here).

I didn’t check out the scene, but the nighlife in Chinatown is supposed to be great. A friend recommended Botak:Liquor to me.

Those are the five places to visit in Kuala Lumpur in one day if you are here for a quick visit.

5. Football At Kuala Lumpur Stadium

Classic selfie at the football

Malaysia isn’t known as a massive football country, but they do love the EPL like most of their fellow Southeast Asia neighbors. The Lot 10 Shopping Mall in Bukit Bintang even has a Liverpool FC shop inside. Selangor FC and Kuala Lumpur FC both play out of Kuala Lumpur Stadium which is close enough to the city centre it’s not hard to get to. Tickets cost 13 RM, and as always, it’s great to watch football when you travel to get a taste of local culture.

6. Putrajaya Lake For Kayaking

Putrajaya Lake

This is a man-made lake that is the focal point of the Federal administration city of Putrajaya. The attractions around the lake are really nice too look at, and the city doesn’t have a high population density at all meaning you have lots of space. You can also take part in some water activities on the lake like kayaking.

7. Sepang Circuit

Unfortunately, Malaysia doesn’t hold a Formula 1 event at Sepang International Circuit anymore, but you can still take a tour of the circuit throughout the year (when there are no race days on). The marquee event at Sepang International Circuit is now the MotoGP event held towards the end of the year.

8. The Botanical Gardens

In the distance is the Bamboo House in the Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens are a nice break from the chaos of nearby Chinatown and Little India. There isn’t so much in the way of gardens, but there is plenty of space to walk around with enough features to look at like the Bamboo House in the photo above. There’s a lake in the center of the gardens which most of the attractions are centered around. You could spend as little as 30 minutes here, or you could just as easily spend half a day enjoying the peacefulness here.

9. Bukit Gasing National Park

Serene surroundings in Kuala Lumpur.

At one of the entrances to Bukit Gasing.

You can legitimately go hiking in Kuala Lumpur! Nothin intense of course, but considering you’re less than a kilometre away from some of the busiest streets in Kuala Lumpur Bukit Gasing is amazing. The signage isn’t great in the park, but if you’ve got maps.me downloaded, I found all the maps there were adequate in ensuring I could find my way back to where I entered. If it hasn’t been too wet, it’s a great place for trail running in Kuala Lumpur. If you’re wondering what to do in Kuala Lumpur thinking you’ve done everything, this should be next on your list.

10. KLCC Park

You’ll have a whale of a time…

KLCC provides a bit of greenery right by the Petronas Towers, a highly trafficked area, and makes for a great spot to take photos of the towers. The park itself is well shaded and is centered around the made-made Lake Symphony (in the photo above). There are some fountains in the lake with the capabilities of shooting water up over 100 metres into the air!

If you aren’t sure what to do in the evening, KLCC Park is one of the best places to visit in Kuala Lumpur at night as the lake is lit up with lights and music with a relaxed atmosphere.

There’s also a 1.3km long-running track around the park, perfect for those wanting some exercise that are staying nearby.

11. Titiwangsa

How good looking is that skyline view!

Located close to Chow Kit, Titiwangsa is a park with a lake in the center. There are some bikes available to rent, and those small cars kids can sit in and drive. Otherwise, it’s a nice place to hang out in, grab a bite to eat at one of the stalls and take in the best view of the KL skyline.

12. KL Forest Eco Park Canopy Walk

Who knew this was right in the heart of the city?

A short walk from Chinatown is the one virgin tropical rainforest in KL. Surrounding KL Tower, an hour or so here is magical. There’s a pathway you can follow with informational boards but you should take the canopy walk instead. Who would have guessed there was a canopy walk in KL? It’s one of the more off the beaten track things to do in Kuala Lumpur despite its location. There are certainly longer and higher canopy walks out there but this baffled me so much it was enjoyable.

13. Thean Hou Temple

The entrance to the best tier of Thean Hou Temple

After visiting Sri Mahamariamman Temple I was going in with some lower expectations, which were blown out of the water when arriving. This Chinese Temple is relatively new, with construction completed in 1987 and it seems to be in great condition. At the entrance, there were fun animal statues to look at (water squirting dragons & evil-eyed rabbits) before I entered the 6-tiered structure.

The fourth floor, with the prayer hall, is where you’ll want to go as a tourist (you can enter the hall but be respectful). The photo above is taken from the fourth floor courtyard, and if you turn around from here you get a view of the greenery merging in with the Skyscrapers of KL. Feeling hungry? Head to the food stalls on the bottom level.

14. Visit The National Mosque Of Malaysia

Lots of people in purple robes…totally normal….

The National Mosque of Malaysia is a symbol of the country becoming independent in 1957. For those who appreciate architecture, you’ll love this the building with the tall minaret and nifty intricacies I can’t appreciate (read the Wikipedia page beforehand so you know what to look for). As long as the mosque isn’t closed for prayer time, you’re allowed to visit for free and go everywhere except the main prayer room where Muslims on are allowed. You’ll need to put on one of these snazzy purple robes when you enter! (no charge)

15. Masjid Jamek Mosque

Men praying at Masjid Jamek

The Masjid Jamek Mosque is the most popular mosque in Kuala Lumpur for tourism I believe. It’s isn’t the biggest mosque, with a capacity of 6000 people able to fit into the property for praying on a Friday afternoon, but it is the biggest.

The architecture is a bit different which caught my eye and I’m going to cheat and tell you the background of that from Wiki. They describe it as a combo of Moorish, Indo-Saracenic or Mughal architecture with pink and white minarets.

If you appreciate the details of mosques, it’s worth seeing both the Jamek and National Mosques. There’s also the Indian Mosque a few hundred metres away.

16. Sri Mahamariamman Temple

Nifty artwork on Sri Mahamariamman Temple

Located in China Town, Sri Mahamariamman Temple is a Hindu temple, the oldest in Kuala Lumpur. It’s free to enter (0.20 RM for shoe storage) and to be honest I didn’t get wowed by this. But everyone else seems to love this spot, so I’m including it in the post. The details in the section at the front and some of the artwork is interesting, but not having any information to learn about what you’re looking at has always been a pet peeve on mine. I was in and out within 10 minutes.

Inside the temple grounds

50 metres down the road, you can check out the Taoist Temple, Guan Di Temple.

Guan Di Temple entrance

Shopping

17. Low Yat Plaza

If you’re in need of some new technology, Malaysia is a good place to consider buying it. The prices at Low Yat Plaza (a specialty IT mall) are great for cameras and most gadgets, though I found the price of universal chargers over two times more than the same thing at 7/11 so don’t always assume it’s a great deal.

18. Central Market

Meeeeh, not convinced by Central Market. Built in 1928, it’s a heritage building and is popular with tourists. It was originally a wet market, but that came to a close in the 80’s and now it’s a fancy market with an array of souvenirs. There are some overpriced restaurants on the second floor too. Some of the stuff is reasonably priced, but I wish it was still a wet market! Would be much more exciting.

19. Chow Kit Market

How spicy are you?

If you’re looking for a fresh fruit and vegetable market, you’ve got to visit the closest wet market to the Kuala Lumpur city centre. Central Market was a wet market, but tourism made that change so the closest market for tourists is Chow Kit Market. The fresh fruit prices are much better than what you’ll pay in Chinatown and it’s divided up into clear sections, meat, fruit, and vegetables. I went along in the early afternoon most days and found the selections to be great. Take a lap of walking around before you start buying as you might see some produce you aren’t used to seeing. If you don’t be prepared to leave with more fresh food than you can carry!

20. Blue Boy Vegetarian Food Court

Such a hidden gem! Looks so innocent from the outside

Mushroom, vegetarian chicken, and rice. It tastes better than it looks,promise.

A vegetarian food court?! Yup, I can’t say I’ve seen one anywhere else! Blue Boy Vegetarian is on the bottom of a residential building, so it looks pretty rough on the outside…not exactly a place you’d voluntarily walk into if you were walking around without a place in mind. It’s kind of tucked back from the street too. Once you’re in though all vegans and vegetarians eyes will light up. There’s a buffet style spot with a bunch of stalls serving a variety of dishes. I went for the buffet style, but be careful as the price can add up quickly this way. The individual stalls list their prices and they’re very reasonable.

21. Little India

Little India at Night

A.k.a. Brickfields. I had experienced Little India on one of my earlier visits to Kuala Lumpur and was disappointed. How wrong was I! At night this place comes alive with lots of people coming into the area to eat and shop. It really did have a feel of being in India and you’ve got to visit to have one meal at any of the restaurants there. It’s proximity to KL Sentral also means there’s no issues getting there on public transit either.

22. Hawker Centers

Love the buffet spot in Taste of Asia, Kuala Lumpur

The hawker centre at the to of Sungei Wang Plaza has lots of great eats as does Taste of Asia on the bottom floor of Times Square. I like the buffet options at both places. In short, if you’re looking for cheap places to eat, then head into a shopping mall and try either the top or bottom floor where the food courts are that the local workers eat at.

23. The Textiles Museum

A display from inside the museum

Alright, so if you’re like me the idea of a textile museum sounds so boring. It did surprise me though, the signboards are both in English and Malay and talk about the method and history of various textiles through the centuries. Wow, the process involved in some of the carpets is insane. I didn’t spend too long here, but if you’re interested in design, interior design, history, and culture in general, you’ll learn a bunch of interesting things here.

24. Royal Malaysian Police Museum

A small plane out the front of the Royal Malaysian Police Museum

A police museum? Doesn’t sound too exciting right? It was so cool! I was totally surprised how much I enjoyed the 40 minutes that was barely enough to look at one of the galleries (I think there is four). Inside the galleries, you’ll find lots of memorabilia, both real and replica versions along with detailed descriptions about what you’re looking at and about the historical periods of the Malaysian Police Force. Considering it’s free entry and is between the National Mosque and the Botanical Gardens, definitely pay a visit.

25. The Shopping Malls

Looking up the Times Square Building

When I think of too many shopping malls two cites come to mind, Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul. The most extreme area of shopping malls in KL is Bukit Bintang where if you get off the train, you could be in any one of five malls in minutes. If you’re a fan, you’ll love them! I’m not a shopping man but like some of the food options as mentioned above(budget options of course)!

Oh, my one tip is to look up for the nearest Sports Direct for good prices on sports equipment.

The National Monument

It doesn’t have the street art culture of Penang, Ipoh, or Melaka but you can find some cool stuff around the city.

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Want A Break From The City? Head to Melaka!

Well there you have it, all of the best places in Kuala Lumpur to visit. I’ll be adding to this list over time no doubt as I explore more and more of the city. There’s always something more I want too see! If you want to know where to go after KL, check this post out.

2 Comments

Honey on October 5, 2018 at 5:03 pm

nice post Malaysia is the best country for researchers of historical places lovers. many great historical places in Malaysia shows the cultural traditions of Malaysia I like cultural valley events and festivals in Malaysia and Pakistan. like Hunza valleys are my favorite in Pakistan.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

HEYYA

Hope all is well. Thanks for using some of your valuable time to read Tiki Touring Kiwi.

I'm Jub, a Kiwi who has one way or another found himself roaming the world after finishing up University in 2010. I've been to a bunch of countries, lived in a few cities, met insanely awesome people from all corners of the world and learnt a thing or two along the way.

By reading Tiki Touring Kiwi I hope you have managed to get a couple of new travel ideas, learnt something and/or enjoyed a story or two. At worst if you procrastinated that little bit more, that's awesome.